[dc-critmass-list] Warning for Bicyclists in Columbia Heights

Sun Jun 26 16:05:12 GMT 2005

I've just joined this list. Greetings, all.

I just commute to work and ride around just so I don't get a slack, 
office-worker's ass, but on my black mountain bike and yellow vest  I'm 
often mistaken for a bicycle cop (not a bad thing in traffic) or a 
bicycle courier, which has made me want to put a sign on my back reading 
"I just ride the bike to the same boring cubicle like yours".  
Obviously, a lot of people don't consider my riding a bike because I 
simply want to summer or winter,  in the rain, snow or 90% humidity.

I think we've all been there in one form or another. Although I have a 
good idea what death really looks like, which is a  middle-aged women 
driving an SUV talking on her cell phone, I've had minor run ins riding 
in DC, such as with the guy who, for no adequately explained reason, 
thought that my head was a good place to put his brown paper bag wrapped 
40 ounce malt liquor at speed. Lucky for me, his having consumed a lot 
of that stuff, his aim sucked.

Although a big U  lock is good, we could make a lot of money selling ASP 
tactical batons disguised as bicycle pumps, although that's not probably 
necessary because they are easily carried on one's person (yes, that's a 
hint). Or, if you are carrying a short aluminum baseball bat, whose to 
say you're not just coming or going to a game? Visible or not, it's part 
of not feeling like, and not acting like, a potential target. Of course, 
even that isn't going to help if you are jumped by a half dozen "kids". 
Then you are simply screwed. Anyone would be.

I guess it's up to individual preference and the degree to which one 
wants to actively carry or use a weapon of any sort because even with 
the will to use it it's still of questionable efficacy given the 
situation. Perhaps simply being hyper-vigilant is better. But this topic 
reminds me that for one reason or another people riding are considered 
to be yet another target, right down to how questionable it is to wear 
Lycra shorts (http://www.metafilter.com/mefi/42448).

It's just another way of getting blind-sided that we riders have to look 
out for.

-- 
Regards, 

Rev. Mykeru
www.mykeru.com

"A Proud Member of the Reality-Based Community" 

Steven Spearman wrote:

>Sounds like the beating couldn't get any worse.  I agree with the Kryptonite solution; most important is to pick the biggest sonuvabitch in the group and lay his ass out...invariably, the rest take notice and 
>haul ass in the opposite direction.  Being a "good victim" leads to getting your ass handed to you again.
>
>Having said that, if you encounter 20 or so 18 year olds, well, keep pedalling my friend, unless you're packing some serious pro.  
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Duncan Price" <mrduncanprice at yahoo.com>
>To: dc-critmass-list at lists.mutualaid.org
>Subject: [dc-critmass-list] Warning for Bicyclists in Columbia Heights
>Date: Sat, 25 Jun 2005 17:39:30 -0700 (PDT)
>
>  
>
>>Very sorry this happened to you Miles....I can only
>>imagine how traumatic and upsetting this is.
>>
>>
>>Teens and kids like that give all kids in DC a bad
>>rap.
>>
>>As for the Kryptonite suggestion, I can only imagine
>>that responding like that when one is totally
>>outnumbered would only lead to a worse beating.
>>These jerks tend to use tactics like this (throwing
>>something) to get bikers to stop, so they can steal
>>the bike.  Just keep riding....fast.
>>
>>I hope you are okay Miles.... hang in there.
>>
>>Duncan
>>
>>
>>--- Luke Kuhn <lukekuhn at hotmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>
>>---------------------------------
>>
>>   Use your Kryptonite on any and all attackers-that's
>>what I do...
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>    
>>
>>>From: Miles Swanson <miles at swanson.com>
>>>To: dc-critmass-list at lists.mutualaid.org
>>>Subject: [dc-critmass-list] Warning for Bicyclists in
>>>      
>>>
>>Columbia Heights
>>    
>>
>>>Date: Fri, 24 Jun 2005 18:40:27 -0400
>>>
>>>Thursday night I was attacked while riding my bicycle
>>>      
>>>
>>west on
>>    
>>
>>>Columbia Rd between 13th and 14th streets.  As I was
>>>      
>>>
>>riding, someone
>>    
>>
>>>threw a drink at me, I stopped to yell at the group
>>>      
>>>
>>of 20 or so kids
>>    
>>
>>>when someone hit me in the neck from behind.  Then 4
>>>      
>>>
>>or 5
>>    
>>
>>>kids took turns attacking and hitting me in the face
>>>      
>>>
>>from all sides.
>>    
>>
>>>  I was knocked off my bike and someone then took it
>>>      
>>>
>>and rode off.
>>    
>>
>>>I was hit in the face/neck several times more times.
>>>      
>>>
>>The group of
>>    
>>
>>>kids standing around just laughed and egged the
>>>      
>>>
>>attackers on. I
>>    
>>
>>>attempted to leave, but the group continued to attack
>>>      
>>>
>>me, knocking
>>    
>>
>>>me to the ground.
>>>
>>>Now when I say these were kids I mean approximately
>>>      
>>>
>>16-18 years old.
>>    
>>
>>>Anyways, just a warning as there have been repeated
>>>      
>>>
>>reports of
>>    
>>
>>>people being attacked while bicycling in this area.
>>>
>>>
>>>-miles
>>>
>>>
>>>
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>
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>  
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